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4.25.2011

This weekend was jam-packed with food, friends, and fun. And while all that excitement (and lack of sleep) made getting up this morning extremely difficult, it was totally worth it.

Friday night was family dinner, as per usual, and we did a Mediterranean theme again. This great decision yielded chicken bolognese, hummus, and hearty Italian bread with herb-infused olive oil. I made a grilled veggie phyllo pie with feta, eggplant, yellow squash, zucchini, and red onion. The roomie made this cracked-out, Easter-inspired monkey bread that combined Peeps and buttermilk biscuits. It was intoxicating.

Still sleep deprived from a week of papers and stressful work situations, I threw some clothes in a bag and left Saturday morning for the much anticipated NYC reunion. Because I was running 3 hours late (oops), I had to drive straight from my apartment upstate to the train station in my hometown, and made the train with mere seconds to spare. But, luckily I made it in time to check out the Topshop in Soho with Elle, my best friend from home, and one of our college friends (A). I was too out of it to appreciate the sheer retail extravagance of this place, so I'll definitely have to go back.

Our appetites sparked from the intense sugary goodness, we headed to a Mexican tapas restaurant for drinks and food. Everything was incredibly yummy.

Chips, salsa and lobster guacamole

Pork-stuffed plantains, braised beef on a corn cake, and meatballs

Mango tiramisu

Finally satisfied, we hung out at a little hookah bar for a bit, gossiping over a pitcher of white sangria, before meeting up with an old friend from high school at a fantastic dive bar that served coffee shop drinks along with a great selection of beer.

CakeShop, East Village, NYC

Exhausted from all the socialization, we had one last obligation to fulfill: street meat. So we headed towards Astor Place and got what was HANDS DOWN the best lamb gyro I have EVER had. I even got a free bottle of water because, according to the owner of the street cart, I am white like tzatziki sauce.

The next morning, Elle, college friend A, and I got ourselves together and had breakfast at the Polish diner near A's apartment. Nothing makes me happier than a Mediterranean omelet with challah toast, a giant iced coffee, and two really great friends.

Elle, keeping up on the latest backpack trends

Because we're terrible bloggers, Elle and I were too distracted by external factors (like, where to eat next) to take outfit pictures. So, we posed for these gems on Easter morning:

weee! friends!

This is what we're like 90% of the time.

I was lazy and didn't shower (attractive, I know) before heading home, so I disguised my not-so-clean hair with an LC-style braid to spare those taking the train with me from seeing the horrors that lay beneath my side part and messy bun.

makeshift headband to hide my greasy roots

After a much needed shower, and a wild dash to gather all my spring/summer clothing to bring back upstate, I went out for an early dinner with my Dad and brother.

Homemade pasta with rabbit, asparagus, and brussel sprouts

Yes, I ate rabbit on Easter. Yes, that probably makes me a terrible person. But I don't care, it was delicious.

Grilled salmon with artichoke sauce over potatoes and asparagus

We also got macadamia-nut tempura calamari with a pineapple dipping sauce, hanger steak with bleu cheese mashed potatoes and spinach, apple-pecan pie, and chocolate lava cake, but the wolves ate all of it before pictures could be taken.

Nicky Bro-bro and I!

I hope all of you got to have as much fun and food as I did this weekend!!